Chevrolet Volt
22% (23)

Nissan Leaf
50% (53)

Neither
24% (25)

Both
5% (5)

Electric-car enthusiasts who tried out the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf during public test-drives this week told us they were impressed with the first mass-market electric cars in a generation.

"My wife and I drove Leaf — extraordinary in its ordinariness," wrote one U-T reader responding to our request for an assessment of the cars. "Easy to drive, decent performance and stats. We will be buying one soon, as soon as Nissan works out some kinks in their reservation system."

Another posted a lengthy review of both cars — having driven the Leaf and sat in the back seat of the Volt.

Nissan has spent some time making the limitations of driving a car with a 100 mile range more manageable. They have developed a comprehensive electronics display that lets you know where the nearest charging stations are, how many miles you have yet on your charge, and what that means with respect to your chosen destinations (how many you will get to before needing to recharge).

The Chevy Volt (electric and gas), on the other hand, is aimed at people who are nervous about getting stuck without a quick charge electric outlet. Chevy listened to focus group people who said they needed to have a car that would get them 250+ miles without stopping.

San Diego is a launch market for both cars, which are to begin arriving in December.